Railroad car axle journal stop



May 8, 1962 K. A. KLINGLER 3,033,616

RAILROAD CAR AXLE JOURNAL STOP Filed Sept. a, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. ma 1. mam/61m,

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RAILROAD CAR AXLE JOURNAL STOP Filed Sept. 8, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. me; fl. ,m/Vam,

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RAILROAD CAR AXLE JOURNAL STOP Filed Sept. 8, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

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This invention relates to a journal stop assembly for journal boxes usedon railroad freight cars and has for one object to provide means forretaining a conventional bearing brass and wedge, used in a railroadfreight car journal box, in position between the journal box and thejournal.

Another object is to provide an elastomeric pad which may be interposedbetween the journal and the journal box sides to limit radial movementof the journal.

Another object is to provide an elastomeric pad which may be interposedbetween the bearing brass and wedge and the journal box sides to limitrelative radial movement of the bearing brass, the Wedge and the boxwith respect to the journal.

ited States Patent (3 In the conventional railroad freight car, thejournal box is seated upon a wedge member, and as both the journal boxand wedge are usually made of a soft cast metal, it is common for theabutting surfaces of both members to wear away. Accordingly, it is anobject of this invention to prevent galling of the abutting surfaces ofa wedge and a journal box by placing a hard metal plate therebetween.

Another object is a method for quickly assembling a journal stop in arailroad freight car journal box which method involves the use of notools other than the usual jack arrangement to take the weight of thecar off the journal box and wedge.

During normal usage the journal of a freight car will become worn andpitted, and it is common practice for the journal to be turned down orreduced in diameter to give it a new wearing face. Accordingly, anotherobject of the invention'is to provide an insert for the elastomeric padabove described, which insert will compensate for the decrease in sizeof the journal so that the elastomeric pad will stop radial movement ofthe journal.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specificationand claims.

The invention is i lustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- FIGURE 1 is a section in part elevationalong the line 1-1 of FIGURE 2, showing a railroad freight car journalbox from the inboard end of the axle;

FIGURE 2 is a section along the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of an axle stop plate for use in arailroad car journal box;

FIGURE 4 is an edge view of the plate shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an elastorneric pad for use in a railroad carjournal box;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the pad of'F-IG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section showing the attachment between the plateand the elastorneric pad;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of another form of an elastomeric pad;

FIGURE 9 is a section along the line 99of FIG- URE 8; 7

FIGURE 19 is a stop plan view of the elastomeric pad of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a section on the line 11-41 of FIG- URE 1.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specificationand drawings.

A railroad freight car journal box it) has an aperture 12 in the inboardside through which an axle 14 may be 3,933,6l5 Fatented May 8, 1962inserted. The axle has been reduced in diameter as at 16 to form ajournal part of the axle. Disposed above the journal and seatedthereupon is a bearing brass 18, and seated upon the bearing brass 18 isa wedge or key 20. In the conventional railroad freight car, the weightof the car is supported by the bearing brass through the wedge. Disposedbetween the wedge 20 and the top of the journal box is a plate 22.

Referring more particularly to, FIGURES 3 and 4, the axle stop plate 22is shown with depending fingers 24 outwardly inclined from oppositesides of the plate 22. Four such fingers are shown but the number is notessential to the invention. The width of the plate plus the outwardextension of the projecting fingers will be slightly greater than thewidth of the inside of the journal so that when the plate is pressedupward in the journal box, during changing of the bearing, the fingers24 will be pressed tightly against the sides of the journal box and willlock to prevent the plate from slipping downward.

Curving downwardly and inwardly from the opposite sides of the plate 22are tabs or hook plates 26, from which elastomeric axle stop pads 28 maybe suspended. The outside end of the plate 22 may have each sideinwardly relieved, as at 27, so that the plate may fit aroundconventional bosses 29, which project outwardly from the sides of therailroad car journal box.

The inboard end of the conventional wedge 20 is slightly tapered as at31. Accordingly, the plate 22 has downwardly projecting arms 33extending from its inboard end, which may act as spring plates or thelike to bias the wedge downward against the bearing brass so that noslack is present.

The axle stop pads 28 shown in FIGURES 5 through 10 have a side or face.30 disposed toward the journal in which there is a shallow curved recess32, having a radius of curvature approximating that of the journal, sothat the pads may partly enclose the journal without normally touchingit. The interior of the recess 32 may be longitudinally grooved as at 34to retain oil. The cushion formed by the pad will yield slightly whenthe journal strikes it, but not enough to allow the journal substantialradial movement.

The upper part of the face 30 is opposed to the wedge 25 and may bevertically slotted as at 36 so as to form a resilient cushion for thewedge. The teeth defined in the slotted section 36 can yield slightly topermit assembly. The tolerances may be plus or minus and if plus so asto make assembly difficult, this yielding of the teeth elements permitsassembly. It is of the utmost importance that the entire area be filledout by the axle stop pad to limit radial axial movement in the box.

Disposed within the pad, as shown in FIGURE 7, is a generally verticalreinforcing member 38 which strengthens the elastomeric pad and servesas a holding means. The upper part of the reinforcing member 38 may formthe upper wall of a pocket 40 in the top of the pad. The pocket 4% isadapted to receive a tab or hook plate 26, from which the elastornericpad is suspended on the reinforcing metal insert.

A modification of the elastomeric pad is shown in FIG- URES 8, 9 and 10wherein the face 30 which 'is disposed toward the journal has an insertindicated generally at 42. The insert 42 is adapted to be received in apocket 44 in the pad and be secured therein by a pair of studs 46 whichproject outwardly from the insert and are received into bores 48 in thepad. Each of the studs 46 is held within the bore by means of a pair ofradially outwardly extending lips 50 which abut a shoulder 52 in thebore. In the preferred form, the insert 42 is made from an elastomericmaterial. However, a brass or bronze insert is also suitable.

The insert 42. has a slight curved recess 54 which has a radius ofcurvature approximating that of the journal so as to partly enclose thejournal without normally touching it. The recess has been longitudinallygrooved as at 56 to form a resilient cushion for the journal. Thecushion formed by the recess will yield slightly when the journalstrikes it, but not enough to allow the journal substantial radialmovement. In the case of a brass or bronze insert, the cushioning effectwould come from the elastomeric pad itself.

Both the longitudinal grooves 34 and the longitudinal grooves 56 performa lubricating function for the journal. Oil from the bottom of thejournal box will be splashed upward as the train moves and be held inthe grooves so that as the journal turns between the pads, the grooveswill supply oil to the journal surface.

The use and operation of'the invention are as follows:

In the normal operation of a railroad car, the axle and journal aresubjected to severe sharp movements and impacts; When the journaland-axle are moved sharply there is a possibility that the bearing brassand wedge, which support the car on the journal, will be displaced andno longer support the load. This is a dangerous situation and can resultin a serious accident.

In order to prevent severe movement of the journal, wedge and bearingbrass, elastomeric pads are disposed on either side of the journal box.These pads are :recessed, grooved and slotted to form resilient cushionsfor the journal and the wedge. These cushions will yield to the journal,brass and wedge, yet will not permit excessive movement thereof in thebox. Thus the axis of the journal is constantly maintained in theapproximate centerof the box and the brass and wedge are maintained inalignment with it.

In normal usage a railroad car journal will become worn and pitted. Thejournal is then usually turned down or reduced in diameter to form a newbearing surface. After the journal has been turned down, however, theelastomeric pads do not closely fit around the journal and will permitradial movement. In order to compensate for journals of smallerdiameter, elastomeric or brass inserts may be provided for the pads. Theinserts can be made in various thicknesses depending upon the journalsize. The inserts may be easily; secured into the axle stop pads bypulling the studs 46 through the bores 48 until the radially outwardlyextending lips 50 have passed through the smaller part of the bore andare forced against the shoulders 52. The insert is then securely held inthe pad.

An axle stop plate may be positioned between the wedge member and thetop of the journal box so as to form a means of suspending theelastomeric pads. Besides being a means of suspension for the pads, theplate also separates the wedge and the journal box and serves as athrust hearing at that point.

In a conventional journal assembly the wedge and journal box are bothmade of cast metal and the relative movement of the wedge and journalbox cause the abutting surfaces of these members to wear away. Byinterposing a harder, smoother metal plate between the cast members, thewear of said members is considerably, reduced as the cast metal surfacesare not galled by the smooth metal plate. Thus wear is greatly reduced.

A journal assembly constructed in accordance with this disclosure hasanother extremely important advantage in that the journal stops can beinserted with a minimum of effort and with no tools other than a jackarrangement for taking the weight of the freight car off the journal boxand wedge. Thus no additional labor is needed.

In order to replace the journal stop constructed in accordance with theinvention, the weight of the car is first removed from the journal boxand wedge by a suitable jack arrangement. Next, the plate is pressedupward until it abuts the top of the journal box, the depending fingerspressing against the sides of the journal box hold the plate inposition. The elastomeric pads are then slipped into the box and arehooked onto the tabs. The bearing brass and wedge are then placedbetween the elastomeric pads and on top of the journal and positioned sothat when the jacks are removed they will be forced upward against thethrust plate and the weight of the freight car will be carried by them.The journal box is assembled and the freight car is ready for use.

When an axle box seal on the inboard side of the box is used between thebox and the journal, violent displacement of the axle radially withinthe box may destroy the seal. My pads limit radial movement of the axlebox and prevent seal destruction and prevent scoring of the journalagainst the cast. box.

It will be realized that whereas I have shown and described an operativedevice, still many changes might be made in the size, shape anddisposition of parts without departing materially from the spirit of myinvention. 1 wish, therefore that my showing be taken as in a largesense illustrative and diagrammatic and not as limiting me to theprecise invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a railroad car journal box containing a wedgemember adapted to carry the load of the car, a bearing plate interposedbetween the journal box and the wedge member, the plate havingdownwardly inclined fingers in locking engagement with opposite sides ofthe journal box, said fingers having biting edges engaging andinterlocking with the opposite walls of the box to prevent downwardmovement of the plate.

2. In combination with a railroad car journal box enclosing a wedge, abearing brass and a journal, a wear plate interposed between the box andthe wedge, elastomen'c cushion stop pads supported by the plate andextending downwardly on both sides of the wedge, the brass, and thejournal along the opposite walls of the journal box.

3. A railroad car axle journal box comprising a relatively flat platehaving spring lock fingers downwardly and outwardly inclined fromopposite edges thereof, integral hook members downwardly and inwardlyextending from said edges, an elastomeric stop pad adjacent each of saidedges interlocking with and supported by the hooks.

4. A railroad car axle journal box comprising a relatively flat platehaving spring lock fingers. downwardly and outwardly inclined fromopposite edges thereof, integral hook members downwardly and inwardlyextending from said edges, an elastomeric stop pad adjacent each of saidedges interlocking with and supported by the hooks, metallic reinforcingmeans contained within the pad and interlooking with the hooks tomaintain the pad in position.

5. In a railroad car axle journal box, a journal and a relatively flatplate having spring lock'tingers downwardly and outwardly inclined fromopposite edges thereof, integral hook members downwardly and inwardlyextending from said edges, an elastomeric stop pad adjacent each of saidedges interlocking with and supported by the hooks, the pads presentingconcave cylindrical surfaces to horizontally opposite faces of thejournal.

6. In a railroad car axle journal box, a journal and a relatively fiatplate having spring lock fingers downwardly and outwardly inclined fromopposite edges thereof, integral hook members downwardly and inwardlyextending from said edges, an elastomeric stop pad adjacent each of saidedges interlocking with and supported by the hooks, the pads presentingconcave cylindrical surfaces to horizontally opposite faces of thejournal, such faces being grooved.

7. In combination, a railroad car axle journal box, a journal therein, abrass in contact with the journal, a wedge interposed between the brassand the top of the box, a generally flat anchor plate interposed betweenthe wedge and the top of the box, spring locking fingers outwardly anddownwardly inclined from opposite edges of the plate, integral hookmembers downwardly and inward- 1y extended from the said edges, anelastomeric stop pad adjacent each said edge of the plate, dependingdownwardly on both sides of the wedge, the brass and the journal andinterposed between them and the inner walls of the journal box, the padsbeing thinner adjacent the wedge than they are adjacent the brass.

8. In combination, a railroad car axle journal box, a journal therein, abrass in contact with the journal, a wedge interposed between the brassand the top of the box, a generally flat anchor plate interposed betweenthe wedge and the top of the box, spring locking fingers outwardly anddownwardly, inclined from opposite edges of the plate, integral hookmembers downwardly and inwardly extended from the said edges, anelastomeric stop pad adjacent each said edge of the plate, dependingdownwardly on both sides of the wedge, the brass and the journal andinterposed between them and the inner walls of the journal box, the padsbeing thinner adjacent the wedge than they are adjacent the brass, thethicker portion of the pads presenting a concave, cylindrical surface toopposite faces of the journal.

9. In combination, a railroad car axle journal box, a journal therein, abrass in contact with the journal, a wedge interposed between the brassand the top of the box, a generally flat anchor plate interposed betweenthe wedge and the top of the box, spring locking fingers outwardly anddownwardly inclined from opposite edges of the plate, integral hookmembers downwardly and inwardly extended from the said edges, anelastomeric stop pad adjacent each said edge of the plate, dependingdownwardly on both sides of the wedge, the brass and the journal andinterposed between them and the inner walls of the journal box, the padsbeing thinner adjacent the wedge than they are adjacent the brass, thethicker portion of the pads presenting a concave, cylindrical surface toopposite faces of the journal, the cylindrical surfaces being grooved.

10. In combination, a railroad car axle journal box, a journal therein,a brass in contact with the journal, a Wedge interposed between thebrass and the top of the box, a generally fiat anchor plate interposedbet-ween the wedge and the top of the box, spring locking fingersoutwardly and downwardly inclined from opposite edges of the plate,integral hook members downwardly and in- I wardly extended from the saidedges, an elastomeric stop pad adjacent each said edge of the plate,depending downwardly on both sides of the wedge, the brass and thejournal and interposed between them and the inner walls of the journalbox, the pads being thinner adjacent the wedge than they are adjacentthe brass, the pads being of such thickness without normally contactingthem as to substantially fill the spaces between wedge, brass and axleon the one hand and the adjacent journal box wall on the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

